Green space helps filter the surrounding air, provides oxygen, and, according to some studies, increases relaxation and even reduces pain. It can also be a boon to real estate, since the presence of an outdoor (or indoor) oasis can help sell a home.

According to real estate agent Brendon DeSimone, “nearly every home buyer considers the outdoors in some way as a requirement for a property they’re considering.”

Certainly this is in the case with luxury real estate, where outdoor spaces are often as opulent as the interiors. Stone patios, infinity pools meeting ocean and sky; outdoor gas fireplaces, private cabanas and curated greenery: All combine to create the perfect garden – and a major selling point for buyers looking for their personal Shangri-La.

Pond-perfect

A small private lake? Check. Green willows, lily pads and a small guest house overlooking it all? Check. Swan? Well, a swan is about the only thing missing from this watery wonderland. And if the private lake isn’t enough to sway you, the grounds of this Encinitas house also feature a full equestrian facility, tennis court, pool and spa.

Conservatory chic

This Hillsboro home for sale sits on 93 pastoral acres with pools, barns, a lake, landscaped gardens and trellises, as well as an enormous green house filled with foliage and charming places to sit. The home is just as expansive at 9,516 square feet with 5 bedrooms and 6 bathrooms.

Bringing Outdoors In

Sure, this Whitefish home features 224-square-feet of lakefront, but even more impressive are the ponds and water features that abut the home’s enormous flagstone patios. The 7,905-square-foot main home is accompanied by two separate guest houses to total 9,575 square feet of living space on over an acre of land.

Italian loggia

This Portola Valley home, coined “Villa Laurison” by its first owner, is designed to embody the grandeur of a Florentine estate. Stone arches, marble outdoor terraces and lush greenery add to a property comprised of over 30 rooms, including 7 bedrooms and 11 baths.

Tree house territory

Putting a new spin on the backyard picnic area, how about this platform tree house surrounded by gardens? This home sits in the urban center of Seattle, but you wouldn’t know it. The property is an oasis of greenery. Built in 1931, the Spanish-style estate also features ocean views from its bluff location.

Greening the concrete jungle

A patio with a few trees may not seem like a whole lot, but in Manhattan real estate, private outdoor space is at a premium, like the one found in this 7,500-square-foot Greenwich Village townhouse. According to DeSimone, “New York City apartments with a deeded, usable outdoor space often sell for 20-to-30-percent more than the same apartment without the highly sought-after outdoor access.”

Secret garden

Dine al fresco out of the Charleston humidity under a leafy canopy, hidden in the corner of the yard. The historic property, while updated, still contains much of its Southern charms with hardwood floors, high ceilings and intricate moldings.

Botanical wonder

The listing description for this Altadena home has it right. It is a “botanical wonder,” boasting two acres of property laden with foliage, green houses and an extensive, vine-wrapped arbor. Listed for the first time in 50 years, the estate contains two parcels, which hold an elegant Colonial as the main house and a generously sized guest house.

Water features

Although the exterior of the modern Saint Charles home is minimalist, the grounds are far from it. The home features a five-acre Japanese garden with numerous waterfalls, pools and ponds, all surrounded by Zen-inspired sitting areas to make for a true “spiritual oasis.”

More in Real Estate

The owners of Boulder’s Sterling University Peaks apartments, who this summer were cited for illegally subdividing 92 bedrooms in the complex, have reached an agreement to settle the case for $410,000, the city announced Thursday.

What happens when you combine two of Colorado’s hottest trends: the outdoor recreation industry and co-working office space? You get an unfolding blueprint for how to develop the real estate surrounding Ward Station, the last stop on the future G-Line and Wheat Ridge’s only transit station on the 122-mile FasTracks system.

Colorado’s economy will rev up slightly next year, led by hiring in construction, tourism and health care, according to the 2017 Colorado Business Economic Outlook from the University of Colorado Boulder.